Key Aspects: Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz on April 17, 2026. Celestyal Discovery became the first cruise ship to pass through the strait, departing Dubai at 11:36 a.m. local time. Other vessels still in the region may soon be able to reposition out of the Gulf. The first cruise ship has now cleared the Strait
Key Aspects: The Port of Seattle expects 330 vessel calls and about 2.1 million passengers in 2026. The season begins with a call by Norwegian Jade on April 17, while Noordam begins the homeport season on April 19. Sixteen vessels will homeport in Seattle, including first-time MSC Cruises and Virgin Voyages’ vessels. The Port of Seattle officially launched the
Key Aspects: A new sailing has been added for Legend of the Seas with a November 8 departure from Fort Lauderdale. The 3-night cruise will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, but the November 11 departure remains the official inaugural sailing. The ship’s European schedule is unchanged and she will debut on July 4, 2026 with
Key Aspects Norwegian Jewel departed Philadelphia on April 16, 2026, marking the first homeport cruise sailing from the city in more than 15 years. The 7-night voyage visits Bermuda and Charleston, South Carolina, before returning to Philadelphia on April 23. The ship was delayed due to embarkation issues at the temporary PhilaPort terminal. Philadelphia’s waterfront saw
Key Aspects: Princess Cruises will launch the POURS beverage collection this summer. The new menu features a unique assortment of alcoholic and zero proof options. The new zero-proof menu takes a wellness-forward approach, including unique ingredients to maximize mood. Princess Cruises is launching an exciting new beverage collection. This summer, Princess will debut the POURS
Key Aspects: Costa Toscana reported an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness (GI) on April 15, 2026. Oceania Insignia reported its own outbreak to the CDC on April 13, 2026. Both ships have enhanced cleaning and disinfection procedures. Two recent voyages, one in the Mediterranean and the other in the Caribbean, have ended with gastrointestinal illness (GI)
Key Aspects: Carnival Legend rescued a man and his cat from a disabled sailboat overnight on Tuesday, April 14. The incident happened as the cruise ship was heading for Cozumel, the first port on her April 13 sailing. Both the man and the cat were safely brought aboard the cruise ship and later debarked in
Key Aspects: Virgin Voyages has apologized for striking the wrong tone with the recent Valiant Lady itinerary change. The cruise line used humor in its communication about changing from Bermuda to Canada for the April 6 sailing. The jokes fell flat with many guests who felt more compensation was needed for the dramatic switch. It’s
Key Aspects: Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Aura completed her float-out at Fincantieri’s Italian shipyard. The 170,000-gross-ton vessel will be the cruise line’s biggest ship. It is scheduled to debut on May 21, 2027, in the Mediterranean. April 16, 2026, is a big day for Norwegian Cruise Line. The company just witnessed the float out of its
Key Aspects: Multiple waterslides onboard both Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have been closed for weeks. Guests are frustrated that there is no explanation for the extended closure of such a key attraction. There is no confirmed timeline for when all the waterslides in the Category 6 waterpark may reopen. Choosing
Key Aspects: Princess Cruises has ordered three Voyager-Class ships that will become the largest vessels in the fleet. Each ship will measure ~183,000 gross tons and carry roughly 4,700 guests. The new ships will arrive in 2035, 2038, and 2039. The next generation of Princess Cruises ships is taking shape, even if passengers won’t step
Key Aspects: MSC Cruises is partnering with Casa de Campo Resort & Villas to re-develop Catalina Island in the Dominican Republic. The destination will be updated with new dining, water sports, and infrastructure upgrades. Catalina Island will remain open for all cruise lines to visit as appropriate to their respective itineraries. Cruise guests are always
